Kenneth Okonkwo, an African Democratic Congress chieftain, has suggested that voting for Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election will ultimately benefit President Bola Tinubu.
During an interview with Symfoni TV on Wednesday, Okonkwo stated that in order to remove the existing president, opposition forces must unite on a single platform.
According to him, political analysts have continuously cautioned that a divided opposition would only increase Tinubu’s chances of winning a second term.
“The reason I said it is that either you’re working for Tinubu directly, in other words, you’re in APC, or you’re working for Tinubu indirectly because when you divide the votes of the coalition and the opposition, you’re still making Tinubu better placed to win,” Okonkwo said.
He condemned Obi’s decision to leave the ADC, claiming the former Anambra State governor was unwilling to participate in a competitive primary process.
“Nobody forced Peter Obi to enter ADC. He entered on his own, and one week before the end of the closure, he left and gave the reason.
“You can’t compete in a primary, and you want to be a politician. You want to be the president of a challenged country, and you’re running away from challenge,” he said.
The former Labour Party spokesman further alleged that Anambra South Senator Victor Umeh had previously stated that the South-East’s best chance of producing a president would be through a political partnership with northern politicians.
“When we were all entering ADC, Victor Umeh made it clear and spoke to me directly that the only chance the Igbo people have is to align with the North and for our brother Peter Obi to be a vice president,” Okonkwo claimed.
He also claimed that Umeh told him that Obi was reluctant to accept such political advice.
“I told him, ‘Have you told Obi?’ He said yes, but that Peter Obi is very stubborn. That if you tell him anything, he would not believe but would continue to try,” Okonkwo said.
Okonkwo stressed that the opposition supporters should carefully consider the implications of their political choices ahead of the next general election.
“Let me tell you the truth: in 2027, anybody voting any vote whatsoever for Peter Obi, you’re voting for Tinubu, and don’t say that I didn’t tell you,” he stated.
